Injector



D. L. BOGUE 4 INJECTOR Nov. 25, 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 12, 1967 11/1/1111/1/1/1/1/1/1/1Illa/fill D. L. BOGUE Nov. 25, 1969 INJECTOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed 'Sept. 12, 1967 Nev. 25, 1969 D. L. BOGUE 3,479,819

INJECTOR Filed Sept. 12,. 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 A k\ I, 1

l M2 M5 /44 I46 /40 United States Patent US. Cl. 6039.74 16 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An injector for injecting two fluids having a multiplicity of radially arranged spray bars which project inwardly from a manifold with the bars having a cooperating member with arms which completes the face of the injector. One fluid is fed to the spray bars and enters the combustion chamber from small openings or nozzles therein while the other fluid is injected from between spray bars and member in a radial line. The center of the member and arms having areas covered with porous metal so that a coolant can be fed therethrough to protect the face of the injector during operation. The portion of the spray bars facing the combustion chamber are provided with inserts of a high conductivity material to aid in keeping the face of the injector at a safe temperature. The spray bars are also protected so that a fluid will not boil therein as it is being passed therethrough. The openings or nozzles passing from the spray bars can be variably controlled to provide throttling. This includes the use of an operating ring in one of the fluid manifolds which can be rotated by a mechanism therein to variably position valves which control flow through the openings or nozzles of the spray bars.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention is within a field of art where it is necessary to inject two fluids or propellants in a combustion chamber and have efficient mixing and the proper structural strength while having a lightweight chamber.

While the prior art is abundant relating to injectors, an effort is continually being made to construct an injector which will have an ease of construction and have a long life while maintaining a high degree of efficiency.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The injector is constructed so that radial spray bars extend inwardly a substantial distance from an outer circumference with a cooperating member being placed so that an arm extends between each pair of adjacent spray bars and a center member engages the free ends of the spray bar. Each spray bar has an insert extending down one side through which a propellant is injected. To control the amount of propellant injected from each spray bar, the size of the openings in the insert can be controlled. This can be done either (1) variably, or (2) by using different inserts depending on the sizes of openings necessary for a particular vehicle mission. The other propellant passes between the spray bars and arms of the cooperating member. The fluids meet and mix at the face of the injector in the combustion chamber. The arms of the cooperating member have areas which are covered with porous metal through which a fluid is passed to provide cooling therefor. The insert providing the openings or nozzles for the injection of fluid into the combustion chamber can be formed having a removable element for each opening to provide for better mixing and control of injection. Even though one propellant completely surrounds the other propellant, diiferential expansions of the elements is restricted almost completely to radial relative movement. This construction separates the two propellants up until final mixing without intervening mechanical, welded or similar joints within the injector.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a sectional view of the injector showing a portion of the combustion chamber and the rear dome into which one propellant fiows.

FIGURE 2 is a view taken along the line 22 of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged view of a section of the injector face of FIGURE 1 having a modified insert block.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged view showing the front of the modified insert block for a spray bar.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged view showing the rear of the modified insert block for a spray bar.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged view taken along the line 77 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 8 is a view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG- URE 5.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged view of a spray bar having means for varying the orifices through which propellant is injected into a rocket.

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged View taken along the line 1010 of FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged View showing the actuating mechanism for the ring of FIGURE 9'.

FIGURE 12 is a view taken along the line 1212 of FIGURE 11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIGURE 1, the injector head 2 is fixed between and held in position by two flanges 4 and 6 bolted together by through bolts 8. Flange 6 is annular and extends around the inner end of wall 10 of the rocket which forms combustion chamber 12 with the face of injector 2. Flange 4 is annular and extends around the inner end of a dome 14 which forms a first propellant chamber 13 with the rear of the injector 2. The first propellant can be directed into the chamber 13 by any means desired.

The injector head 2 is formed of two main parts, (1) a main body 16 and (2) an insert body 18. The main body 16 is formed having an outer annular portion 20 which is fixed between the annular flanges 4 and 6, referred to above. A plurality of spray bars 22 extend inwardly from the annular portion 20 approximately two thirds of the way to the center thereof. Each spray bar is hollow as at 24 and a passageway 26 connects the interior of each spray bar at its base to the outer circumference of the annular portion 20 terminating in a hole 28. Each spray bar is covered with a protective layer 29 facing the first propellant chamber 13 for insulation to prevent boiling of a fluid being passed therethrough. A cover 30 is fixed to the outer circumference of the annular portion 20 to form a manifold enclosing the holes 28 and into which a conduit 32 is connected to direct a second propellant. A key way 52 extends through the thickness of the annular portion 20 of the main body 16 between each of the spray bars for a purpose to be hereinafter disclosed.

A plurality of holes 34 extend along the front of each spray bar 22 to connect the interior thereof to the bottom of a channel 36 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) located along the length of the front edge thereof. An insert block 38 is positioned in each channel 36 to provide the part of the main body which extends to the face of the injector. This insert block has openings 40 which align with the holes 34 in the spray bar.

The insert body 18 is formed having a hollow center hub member 42 with a plurality of outwardly extending arms 44 at one end which fit, one each, circumferentially between each pair of adjacent spray bars 22. The hub 42 is substantially cylindrical in cross section as viewed from the combustion chamber 12 with a tapered annular surface 37 which tapers inwardly as it extends into propellant chamber 13. Each arm 44 is formed extending from hub 42 and as seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, it shortens in width as it extends outwardly and widens in frontal area. A channel 45 extends along the front of each arm from a point adjacent the inner end to a point adjacent the outer end. This channel increases in cross-sectional area as it extends radially outwardly (see FIGS. 2 and 3). A porous metal plate 47 covers each channel 45 and openings 49 connect the interior of the channel to the passageways formed between the arms 44 and spray bars 22 to admit fluid therefrom for cooling. Said hub is sized to fit in the opening formed by the free ends of the spray bars 22. The hub 42 is formed having two annular recesses 60 and 62 located on the surface facing the combustion chamber 12. A center recess 64 within annular recess 62 is also included. A circular piece of porous material 66 is fixed in place across the recesses 60, 62 and 64 to provide for the passage of a cooling fluid therethrough to cool the face of the injector. A passageway connects the chamber 68 of the hollow center hub member with each of the annular recesses and center recess. A- passageway connects the first propellant chamber 13 with the chamber 68 of the hub 42. It can be seen that a direct passageway exists from the propellant chamber 13 to the area behind the porous plate 66 to direct a flow of propellant thereto for cooling. For assembly, the ends of the spray bars 22 each have a tab 46 extending therefrom, all of said tabs forming positioning means for the annular projection 48 formed around the end of the hub adjacent the combustion chamber 12. Built up lugs 50 around the hub 42 are arranged to fit one each circumferentially between the tabs of adjacent spray bars. Key ways 52 receive mating lugs 54 at the tip of each of the arms 44. A small recess 56 in line with each key way 52 is provided in the dome 14 which forms a limit for the positioning of the insert body 18.

When the dome 14 and main body 16 are in place with the flange 4 and annular portion 20 and properly aligned, the insert body 18 is moved into position from the combustion chamber side. When the annular abutment 48 meets the lugs 46, the dome end of the tab 54 of each of the arms 44 rests in a key way extension 56. The wall of the rocket is then brought into place with the flange 6 abutting the annular portion 20 of the main body and the ends of the tabs 54. As mentioned hereinbefore, bolts 8 hold flanges 4 and 6 together with portion 20 therebetween.

FIGURES 4-8 show a modified version of the insert block. This insert block 38a is formed of approximately the same length as insert block 38 and is also formed having a similar mating surface for cooperation with channel 36. However, instead of merely having holes 34 therethrough, the portion of the block 38a which mates with the channel 36 is formed having two longitudinal extensions 76 and 78 with the outer sides forming the mating surfaces and the inner surfaces forming two flat surfaces 80 and 81 facing each other with flanges 82 and 84 extending therefrom, respectively, towards each other. These flanges each present a short flat surface 83 which extends at 90 with each of the surfaces 80 and 81, and a flat tapered surface which extends outwardly until it mates with the outer edge of holes 70 which are located along the length of the block 38a to receive nozzle members 72 in a manner to be hereinafter described. The extensions 76 and 78 are fixed in relation to each other through the material between each of the holes 70 (see FIG. 8).

Each nozzle member 72 is formed having one end as a solid cylinder with vanes 74 which are formed in a helical manner thereon and which are sized to fit within an opening 70. Each nozzle member 72 has an extension 90 projecting therefrom which has a rectangular member 92 at the free end thereof. This member 92 is sized so as to have a width which is less than the opening between the ends of the flanges 82 and 84 and a length which is just slightly less than the distance between surfaces and 81. Each member 72 is located in a position where member 92 can be passed through its cooperating hole 70 and flanges 82 and 84 and out past the end of the block. At that point, it is rotated so that the member 92 is located from its inserted position and pulled back into the block so that the member 92 will now rest between surfaces 80 and 81 as shown in FIG- URE 7, when it is pulled back into the block. It can be seen that the flow will pass between the members 92 and around the extensions 90 and flow between the vanes 74 so that any fluid entering the combustion chamber will enter with a swirling action. The openings 70 of a block can have nozzle members 72 inserted along its length having the vanes 74 at varying angles with rela tion to the flow to obtain any desired pattern within the combustion chamber.

FIGURE 9 shows a modification of the spray bar which includes means for variably controlling the flow of fluid from the spray her through the insert block 38.

9 This means includes a rotatable valve member which is positioned in a cylindrical hole which extends from the outer circumference of the annular portion 20 through said portion 20 and intersecting all of the openings 34, which are longer in this modification than in FIGURE 1. It can be seen from FIGURE 10 how movement of the valve member 100 can vary the opening 34. The end of the valve member which extends from the annular portion 20 has a bearing means 106 located therearound. This roller bearing is positioned in a recess with the outer ring held in position by an annular nut 108. A spacer member 110 engages the inner ring and extends past the end of the nut 108 to engage a lever 112 which is fixed to the free end of the member 100. It can be seen that as lever 112 is moved, it will rotate the member 100 about its axis. A ring member is positioned around the outer circumference of the annular portion 20 to serve as means for coordinating the movement of all of the members 100 of all of the spray bars. Each lever 112 of each member 100 has a pin 122 extending outwardly therefrom which engages the center of a ball joint 124 which is rotatably mounted in an arm 126 extending from the ring 120.

Ring 120 is mounted for movement about its center by being rotatably mounted on a plurality of rollers 130 spaced around the outer circumference of the annular portion 20. These rollers 130 are positioned in recesses 132 formed in the annular portion 20 and each rotates on a pin 134.

Since this ring cannot be reached when the cover 30 is fixed in place, means must be provided to move the ring. This is done by a cylinder having a piston 142 mounted therein for reciprocating movement. The cylinder is connected to the piston 20. The piston has an opening 144 therein to receive an arm member 146 which projects from the bottom of the ring 120. An opening 148 is located in the side of the cylinder to permit movement of member 146. A passageway 150 is connected to one end of said cylinder to act on the cooperating end face of the piston 142 and a second passageway 154 is connected to the other end of the cylinder 140 to act on the face of the piston cooperating therewith. Both of the passageways 150 and 154 extend through the wall of the annular portion 20 to a mechanism which will direct a fluid to one side of the cylinder or to the other while connecting the opposite side to drain. This device will control movement of the piston 142 as desired. Many types of fluid control devices can be used to actuate the piston 142 to control the opening 34.

What is claimed is:

1. An injector having a plurality of radially arranged spray bars, the outer end of said spray bars being connected to an annular member, said spray bars extending inwardly a substantial distance leaving an open area at the center of the annular member, said spray bars and annular member having passages therethrough, a member located within said spray bars having a center member positioned in the open area with arms projecting radially outwardly, each arm extending between each pair of adjacent spray bars, said center member engaging the inner ends of said spray bars and the outer ends of said arms engaging said annular member, passageways being formed between said spray bars and said arms for injecting a first propellant, said spray bars being formed with holes extending down one side for injecting a second propellant to mix with said first propellant.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said injector has a combustion chamber located downstream thereof, and each of said spray bars having a plurality of holes therein extending along its length and being di rected towards said combustion chamber.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein an elongated member is attached along the length of each spray bar and provides for extensions of holes in the spray bars.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein each arm of the center member has a groove extending along the length thereof, a porous plate covering each of said grooves, means for directing a coolant to said grooves for passage through the porous plate to the face of the injector.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said center member has a recess in its surface facing said combustion chamber, a porous plate covering said recess means for directing a coolant into said recess for flow through said porous material into said combustion chamber.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein a combustion chamber is located downstream of said injector, said combustion chamber being connected to said annular member, a propellant chamber located upstream of said injector, said propellant chamber being connected to the other side of said annular member, said propellant chamber being connected to the passageways formed between said spray bars and said arms.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said spray bars are provided with a protective coating where they face the propellant chamber.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the elongated member contains removable inserts which provide a swirling motion to the propellant passing through said elongated member.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the center member has abutment means which engage extensions of the inner ends of the spray bars for positioning the center member with respect to the spray bars.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the outer ends of said arms have projections which are positioned within recesses in said annular member, said projections being held in position between said combustion chamber and said propellant chamber.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein means are provided for varying flow through the holes in said spray bars.

12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein a valve member extends the length of each spray bar and intersects the holes extending down one side of the spray bar, each valve member extending through said annular member and having a free end positioned outwardly therefrom, actuating means positioned around said annular member for variably positioning all of said valve members.

13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein an annular manifold is located around said annular mem ber, said passages of said annular member being connected to the interior of said manifold, said means for varying fiow including a valve member extending the length of each spray bar and intersecting the holes therein, each valve member extending through said annular member into said annular manifold and having a free end positioned therein, actuating means in said manifold for variably positioning all of said valve members.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said actuating means includes a ring member surrounding the free ends of said valve members, linkage interconnecting said ring with all of the free ends of said valve members so that rotary movement of said ring member rotates all of said valve members.

15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said linkage comprises a lever extending from the free end of each valve member, an arm extending from said ring at each location of a lever, each arm being positioned adjacent each lever, a ball member being rotatably mounted in each arm, a pin member extending from each lever toward its cooperating arm, the free end of each pin being connected to its cooperating ball member to provide for relative movement therebetween.

16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein a cylinder and piston unit is positioned within said annular manifold, said piston being connected to said ring member to provide for rotation thereof as the piston moves within the cylinder, hydraulic lines leading to each end of said cylinder providing motive fluid for actuating said piston, said hydraulic lines extending to the exterior of said annular manifold.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,703,962 3/1955 Olson 39.74 3,194,012 7/1965 Horrocks 6039.74 3,242,670 3/1966 Buswell 60-258 CARLTON R. CROYLE, Primary Examiner DOUGLAS HART, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 60258 

